Metro Manila, Philippines – The possible filing of criminal charges against Vice President Sara Duterte will strengthen the case in the impeachment trial, a number of representatives said as they again called for the litigation to begin.
The National Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday, Feb. 12, formally urged the Justice Department to press charges of inciting to sedition and grave threats against Duterte, prompting prosecutors to begin the evaluation and preliminary investigation.
Representatives Jil Bongalon, Paolo Ortega, and Ernix Dionisio, members of the Young Guns bloc in the House of Representatives, released separate video statements welcoming the development.
“[T]his is a positive development, especially in relation to the impeachment case filed against the vice president,” Bongalon said.
“It would really strengthen our position that indeed the vice president committed criminal acts such as grave threats and inciting to sedition, which the National Bureau of Investigation has found out that there is indeed sufficient evidence against the vice president,” he added.
While Duterte denied making an assassination threat against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Ortega said the videos speak for themselves.
“Kitang kita po naka-live, mayroon pong video. So kitang-kita po na may pagtatangka sa buhay ng ating pangulo by the vice president,” Ortega said.
[Translation: We can clearly see it; it was live, there’s a video. So it’s clear that there was an attempt by the vice president on the life of our president.]
He referred to Duterte’s outburst during a virtual press conference from the House of Representatives compound when her chief of staff was detained in November.
“May kinausap na ako na tao. Sinabi ko sa kanya, pag pinatay ako, patayin mo si BBM, si Liza Araneta, at si Martin Romualdez. No joke. No joke,” Duterte said.
[Translation: I already spoke to someone. I told that person that if I was killed, kill BBM, Liza Araneta, and Martin Romualdez. No joke. No joke.]
Dionisio said the NBI may have “found evidence and possibly individuals behind such threats,” which likely led to the filing.
In a separate statement, House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro said the people are also awaiting the beginning of the impeachment trial.
“Sana ay kagyat na simulan ito at huwag nang patagalin pa ang pagpapanagot kay VP Duterte sa paglustay sa pera ng taumbayan [I hope this is started immediately and that the accountability of VP Duterte for the misuse of the people’s money is not delayed any further],” she added.
Over 200 lawmakers have voted to impeach Duterte mainly for her threats against the president and alleged misuse of millions in confidential funds, sending the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate.
In a press conference on Friday, Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said progress in the criminal case does not have any impact on the impeachment trial, which he expects to begin in July after completing the preparations and pre-trial.
“Walang bearing iyon at walang kinalaman iyan doon. Sa katunayan, pwedeng magpatuloy iyon ng sabay, pwedeng mauna, pwedeng sumunod. Wala siyang bearing sa impeachment proceedings na isasagawa ng Senado,” Escudero said.
[Translation: It has no bearing and is unrelated to it. In fact, it can proceed simultaneously, it can come first, or it can follow. It has no impact on the impeachment proceedings that the Senate will conduct.]
“Mukhang mauuna naman sila (It seems like theirs will come first anyway),” he said.
